The Grenada gazette., 1887-10-08

l W. s. 3
| "But they may look to see"
| For answer Nettie took down q col
Of superb brown hair, that had beel
neatly twisted up under her hat
Shaking it out, she said:
''Give mo the notes, grandfather"
He took large roll from his wallet
and looked ON in mute admiration
while Nettie twisted it into her hair
pinning and patting the large coil unit
it was in order, and finally perchins
the dainty hat over all.
"Don't worry about mo-" she said
kissing the old man tenderly. Then,
after moments hesitation, she said,
very, very gravely:
"Grandfather, you will keep secret
if l tell you one. F."
/ Eyes, DEAR .
"Then, while you are grateful that
you are not exposed to robbery. and
perhaps murder, thank Heaven. too,
for my escape. One of those men Is
Frank Mitchell" -
She kissed him, and was gone before
he had sufficiently recovered from his
amazementt to answer her.
She drove rapidly, hoping to pass
Higgins's barn too quickly to be
stopped, as dusk was gathering. But
three men stood across the road, and
the horse stopped. The men were all
masked, but Nettie knew well that ii
was her lover who grasped the horse
by the bride and ordered her grand.
father to alight.
1t was hard task to laugh, but Net.
tie was brave in the face Of the actual
peril. With light laugh she said:
II am not Mr.. Snow. Don't you
know girl from an old manp"
This is Mr.. Shows buggy, "growled
one of the men.
"Well, hasn't he a right to lend it to
his granddaughter to 60 home imp" re.
torted Nettie.
"Aint he going over to Mitchelrs"
asked the growing voice.
mo. Oh!"1as if the idea had sud.
denly occurred to her - "Oh, you
wicked men! You thought grandfather
was taking money to Mr.. Mitchell's.
Oh, l am so glad! He met Wilson in
town, and he has sent Mr.. Mitchell the
rents"
The ferceness of the oaths that met
this statement made Nettie's heart
sink. But she sat erect, and watched
the hand that held her horse. In the
first surprise the man turned to his
companions, and Nettie gathering the
reins firmly in her left hand, suddenly
brought the whip lash, with all the
force of her young arm, across tho
hand she was watching. Involuntarily
it loosened its grasp, while the horse,
started by the same blow, dashed ahead
with speed that threatened new dan.
ger, for the dusk was gathering.
Nettie saw Harry Lane at the cross.
roads, patiently waiting, but was COM
PEELED to pass at full speed with only a
nod of recognition.
Before she reached her destination
she had full control of the horse again,
but it was a very pale face that con.
fronted the fatherly old man who re.
ceived her.
With a low, faltering voice she told
her story. unbound her hair and dcliy-
cred the money.
But instead of counting it, Mr..
Mitchell tossed it down, and asked:
"Nettie, did you recognize the men?"
"Only one of them"
"And that one--who was heo"
ooh, don't ask me. Oh, Mr.. Mitch.
ell, don't, don't ask me.''
And then, thoroughly unnerved at
last, Nettie broke into passion Of sobs.
She turned to the door, her hair all
streaming about her shoulders, but
Mr.. Mitchell put his hand on her arm
and gently detained her.
"You must tell me! Is it for 1ny sake
you are silentP Would he-he-the
me? Nettie, you must speak.
Was it my son9"
Her face answered him, for she could
not speak. With shaking limbs sho
left the house, and drove home. What
spirit of bravado tempted Frank
Mitchell to be there, waiting for her,
she could not tell, but he was in the
sitting-room, chatting with her mother
rs she entered. Weary as she was,
the sight reused all Nettie's spirit,
md in answer 10 her mothers ques-
ton:
why, Nettle, did you drive homeP'
she told her story in every detail, ex.
cepting he recognition of the man who
listened. Then saying:
II must 60 and put up my hair"
she turned to leave the room again.
Stopping as she passed her visitor,
she said in voice heard only by HIM
self: ..
You are wise to wear your gloves
until the mark OF my whip lash is gone
from your hand"